Yale Hosts 2010 USTA/ITA Northeast Regional

New Haven, Conn. – The Bulldogs will host the 2010
USTA/ITA Northeast Regional beginning Thursday at the
Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center.

The Bulldogs will send six singles and three doubles players to
the tournament. The Regional tournament will determine which
players head to Flushing, N.Y., for the 2010 USTA/ITA National
Indoor Championships Nov. 4-7.

Cary Leeds Coach of Men's Tennis Alex Dorato is excited to see
his team perform this weekend.

"The team is playing very well, so I am hopeful that we'll have
a strong showing at Regionals."

However, Coach Dorato does not expect playing on campus to give
the Bulldogs much of an edge.

"Visiting players will get used to the court surface and
surroundings pretty quickly, so I don't think there will be a big
home court advantage."

On Thursday, senior Jordan Abergel
will kick off play for the Elis when he plays his first match in
the Qualifying field against Drexel's Manu Bajpai. Two wins
in qualifying would send Abergel to the Main Draw, where he would
join five of his Bulldog teammates.

Sophomore Marc Powers is
the No. 2 seed in the Main Draw and will receive a first-round
bye. Sophomore No. 8 seed John Huang will also receive a
first-round bye, as will sophomore No. 12 Daniel
Hoffman. Junior Joel Samaha will
play the No. 1 qualifier in his first match, while junior Erik
Blumenkranz will play the No. 6 qualifier.

In doubles play, the No. 4-seeded team of Samaha and Blumenkranz
will receive an opening-round bye, as will No. 7 Hoffman and
Powers. Abergel and Huang will team up to face Cornell's
Jonathan Jaklitisch and Mirza Klis.